Curtain stretcher



s. E. MAvEs Er A1. 1,940,600

CURTAIN 'STRETCHER Dec. 19, 1933.

Filed Feb. 4, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l dummy Dec. 19, 1933. s. E. MAvEs Er AL CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Feb. 4, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -llllllll III IIIIII Illlllll 45 erative position;l

Patented Dec. Y 19, 1933 Cushman, Washington, D. C., assignorsA to j Western Newell Mfg. Co., Freeport, Ill., a corporation of Illinois v Application February 4, 193s. serial. No. 655,2'18 j f 9 claims. (o1. 'i5- 24) The invention. relates to a curtain stretcher, particularly a curtain stretcher in which no pins or similar means for attaching and holding the curtains while being dried` and'stretched are l provided. i. In the type of curtain stretchers using pins or similar means for the attaching and holding. of the curtain, it will be found that the .borders of the curtain will,V after drying, assume a scalloped appearance which is objectionable, 'and that the material will have innumerable holes adjacent its edges which tend to hasten deterioration thereof. I

In the type of curtain stretcher now in use'. in

r.1g which no pins or similar elements are provided,

- great difculty is experienced in the. correct positioning of the curtain on theistretching rods in order that the curtain be evenly and not lopsidedly stretched.

It is one of the objects ofthe lpresent invention to provide a` pinless curtainstretcher on which the curtain maybe, evenly positioned.

It is another object of the invention to provide a curtain stretchenthe use of which simpliiies the correct adjusting and positioning of the curtain on the stretching rods.

It is also a further object of the invention to provide a curtain stretcher which is eicent as to results and inexpensive to manufacture.,A

Further andother objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter apparent, and in the drawings, j i A Figure l is a perspective View of the curtain stretcher when in operative position; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the curtain Y stretcher taken" on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 tain stretching rods; Figure 4 is aside view of another form ofthe curtain stretching rods, and in addition `shows the use of the iiexible side Lmembers or Aconnectors. 'Y

Figure 5 isjasectional view of the j curtain stretching rods shown in Figure V4, when 'in op- Figure 3 is a side View of one form ofthe cur-f Figure 6 is a top View in part Vof thegform of curtain stretchingrod shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7' is a side view Vin part of still another form of the curtain stretchingrods; andy Figure A8 is a sectional view of the curtain stretching rod disclosed in Figure 7. i Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like. partsjtheinyat all times, properlyand vention comprises .two rods 10 and 1 1, .the former being for use at the top of the curtain andthe latter, which is circumferentiallythe larger and tain.` In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig- 6,0r ures 1, 2 and 3, theV rods areidisclosed as round and at theirends are provided with eyelets 12, having Shanks 13 which are-rigidlyset therein.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the transverselycross-sectional 6 5 configuration ofthe rods aregenerally disclosed `as pear-shaped, each having a substantiallysemicircular portion 13' anda substantially tapered 'portion 14. At both ends of the rods Athere are provided eyelets 15, whichv are rotatably mounted in any suitable manner.` In the construction here shown, portions of. the rods ,adjacent the.. ends are cut away as at 16 and the Shanks 17 of the eyelets'15 project into said cut-away portions vthrough apertures in the rod endsand areheld '75 therein by means'of the 'enlarged butts 18'ofthe" said shanks. i l

In the form of the invention illustrated Figures 7 andv 8, the `rods 19 are disclosed as round and eyelets 20 having relatively elongated 80 Shanks 21 are rotatablyfset'in the. ends thereof. On the said shanks are supported rods 22 having arms 23 at their ends which are screw thread. Yed to receive the screw threaded portions 21V of said Shanks. The rods 22areof a substantially tapered configuration and have substantially concave bases 23k which iit the circular rods 19. f

Graduations 24 having the proper indicia or numerals 25 are provided on'the rods, the. purpose of Whichis to facilitate correctmeasuring and positioning of the curtain onl the rods,y so

Vthat it will dry and stretch evenly, the four corofftherod.. i' .i By means of-` this j systemoi graduations, theA curtain maybe quickly positioned by placing the 105 four corners thereof at the' fo ur numeralsindijeating the desired or properjvwidth, and the rods will', at all times, be exactly parallel to each other, and when the top rodvisfproperly hung, Y there will existperfect balance and anreven dis- 11( tribution of tension on all portions of the curtain fabric.

In the form of the invention where the rods are round, as in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the graduations are placed parallel to the eyelets on both sides of the rodsv when they are hung `in operative position and thereby may be easily observed by the user. Y

In the form of the inventionas disclosed in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the graduations are on bothf sides of the substantially tapered portions .14., Due to therotatably mounted eyelets, and as observed more particularly in Figure 5, the topv rod, when properly positioned, will always have the tapered portion hanging downwardly and if.

the rod is hung above the users head, the graduations being placed for reading when in this po-` sition can be readily observed. The bottom rod will be so held by the hem of the curtain that' the-.taperedportion is pointing upwardly, and if the said rod is near the ground or door, the graduations being placed for reading when in this position can be read without the'necessity o fstooping or, leaning over by the user, and the desired adjustments of thecurtain can be easily sitioned at thejbottom of the curtain are heavier thanvthose adapted for use at the top of the curtain and the weight of the former is sufiicient to provide the proper stretching oi' the curtain Any suitable method may be used for positioning the top stretcher rod for operation, and, as shown in Figures `1 and 2, there isiemployed a hanger 26 comprising a lower hook portion 27 which' is'inserted through theeyelets at the ends of the rodand an upper and larger hook portion 28 which may behung over a clothes line `29 or similar support.V f

If desired, the Aeyelets provided at the ends of thetop stretcherj rods may be supported simply by two ordinary hooks `positioned the proper distance apart on a ceiling, Wall or anyother convenient place. 4 y

When the top stretcher rod has been threaded 'through' the permanent or temporary hein, if need be, at the Vtop of the curtain, the bottoinand 'heavier'stretcher rod is threaded through the lower permanent or temporary hem. The desired width of the curtain is obtained by posi- .tioning the four Vcorners thereof at theidenti-v cal graduations at` each end of the rods respectively and when the curtain dries, it Vwill be evenly stretched and will maintainthereaiter the` desired shape. y l

,f It will be obvious thatwere the top andbottom'stretcher rods not positioned precisely `alike in the hems of the curtains, particularlythe bottom rod, there would result a curtain stretched ina lopsided and uneven manner.. Furthermore, if the .endsv of the curtain were not positioned to provide the same width on the top andbottom rods, the curtain, when dried, would be ,stretched 'in a lopsided and uneven manner.r With the Vuse of the graduations and indicia or numerals denoting the various widths on the stretcher rods, such a result is eliminated.

. When necessary and desired, Weights 30 having eyelets 3l may be attached to the outer ends of the lower stretcher rods to further stretch the curtain. The hanger 26 her'einbefore described may be used to connect thev eyelets at the ends ofthe lower stretcher rods and the eyelets 3l of the said weights. Obviously other and various forms of weights and means or attachment to the stretcher rod eyelets may be used.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, there will be observed additional means for correctly positioning and measuring the curtains on the stretcher rods. The feature to be described is particularly adaptable to curtains which are made of exceedingly stretchable material and which might be stretched to a greater degree than desired. y

There yare provided liexible members or Uconnectors 32comprising asuitable length oftape or Vsimilar exible material.A It will be noted that the said members are adjustable to the dcsired length between the attaching members 33 g which in this instance and for illustrative purposes only, comprise loop portions' 34 from which extend hook members, Y the latter cooperating with the eyelets 15. It is to be understood that the attaching members are capable of Various forms which will perform the same functions'.

A clip 35 is provided to hold the iiexible inembers in their adjusted positions. Y t Graduations and the proper indiciaY or numerals are shown on the ilexible members as at 36 and 37 respectively.` The operation of .the flexible members is obvious and by means thereof the proper length of the curtain to be stretched c an be easily de'- termined by merely adjustingthe said members to the desired lengths. y j The flexible members' or connectors are adapted for use with any of various forms of curtain rods shown.

With the use of the invention described, innumerableadvantages over the type of stretcher rods now in use are evident.

yThe invention is susceptible of various forms and modifications which come within the scope 'of the appended claims.

We claim: l

l. In a curtain stretcher, a supporting rod havin g a rotatable eyeletr at each end and adapted for insertioninto the upperhemof a curtain, a

stretching rod adapted for insertion into the.

lower hemof the curtain, and graduations with indicia on'` said rods to' facilitate .similar positioning ofthe curtain thereon, said rods being substantially pear-shaped in cross-section and loo its

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adapted to hang with their rounded portions facing outwardly from the center of the curtain. 2. In a., curtain stretcher, a supporting rod having a rotatable eyelet at each end and adapted forinsertion into thev upper end 0i` a curtain,

a stretching rod adapted for insertion into the lower hem 0f the curtain, said rods rbeing formed with substantially semi-circular portions and substantially tapered portions, and graduations with indicia arranged on said tapered portions to facilitate visibility thereof and an even positioning'of the'curtain on both rods, said tapered portions adapted to face each other whenpositioned in the'herns of the curtain. f

3. In a curtain stretcher, asupporting member and a stretching member'adaptednfor insertionv into the hems of a curtain, each comprising a rod having a second rod rotatably mounted at its ends, and means on said second rod for positioning the corners of said curtain equi-distantly from the respective centers of said rods.

4. In a curtain stretchena supporting member and a stretching member adapted for insertion into the hems of a curtain, each comprising Vmounted on the Shanks of said eyelets, and

graduations having indicia on said second-rod for positioning the corners of said curtain equidistantly from 'the respective centers of said rods.

6. A curtain stretcher, a supporting member and a stretching member adapted for insertion into the hems of a curtain, each comprising a substantially circular rod having a rotatable eyelet at each end and a substantially triangular rod having arms mounted on the shanks of said eyelets, and graduations having indicia on said second rod for positioning` the corners of said v curtain equi-distantlyfrom the respective centers of said rods.

'1. In a curtain stretcher, a rod adapted for insertion into the upper hem of a curtain,'a rod adapted for insertion into the lower hem ofthe curtain, means on said rods for positioning vthe corners of said curtain and measuring the width thereof, and exible means between the rods for measuringV thelength of the curtain Vand supporting the'lowermost rod in adjusted position.

8. In a curtain stretcher,v a rod adapted for insertion into the upperhem of a curtain, a rod adapted for insertion into the lower hem of a curtain, means on said rod for positioning thev corners of said curtain and measuring the width thereof, and adjustable exible tape-like members between the outer ends ofthe rods for measuring the length of the curtain and supporting the lowermost rod in adjusted position.

9. In a curtain stretcher, a rod adapted for l insertion into the upper hem of lthe curtain, a

rod adapted for insertion .into the lower hem of` the curtain, means on said rod for positioningA the corners of saidcurtain and measuring the width thereof, and adjustable flexible tape-like members between the outer ends of the rods for supporting the lowermost rod, andfgraduations and indicia on said tape-like members to measure the length of' the curtain. 

